ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – After a short break for the holidays, the UCF men's basketball team is set to return to action Wednesday night with the start of American Athletic Conference play. The Knights take on Tulane in New Orleans at 8 p.m. on the American Sports Network (my65 in Orlando area).
UCF (9-3) had a tremendously successful non-conference season in its first year under head coach Johnny Dawkins. Playing with at most seven scholarship players – and sometimes only six – the Knights have enjoyed their best start to a season since opening up 14-0 back in 2010-11.
With wins over Mississippi State, Charleston and UMass, the Knights have been receiving votes in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches' Polls multiple time already this season, the first time since 2011-12.
UCF will look to continue its success into conference play on Wednesday. The Knights have done well in recent history in conference openers, winning six of their last seven overall and two of the three American Athletic Conference openers since the league's inception.
The opener will be against a Green Wave (3-9) team that has struggled early on in its first season under Mike Dunleavy, Sr. Tulane has wins over Southeastern Louisiana, Southern and at Southern Miss, but has lost its last two times out, falling to McNeese and Texas State at home.
The Knights will look to avenge a loss from last season's American Athletic Conference Tournament on Wednesday. In March of last year, Tulane eliminated UCF from the tourney with a 65-63 win in the first round.
That late season loss, however, was a rare occurrence in the all-time series between the two teams, as UCF leads it 12-3. The Knights had won 10-straight times against Tulane, including twice in the regular season last year, before falling to the Green Wave in the tournament.
There are multiple ways for fans to watch Wednesday night's game in New Orleans. Broadcast by the American Sports Network, it will be available online via WatchESPN and on mobile devices with the ESPN app. Locally, the game will be picked up by FOX 35 Orlando and air on WRBW My65.
Fans can also listen to the game with Voice of the Knights Marc Daniels on the call. Just turn to FM 96.9 The Game on the radio, or via mobile device on the iHeart Radio and UCF Knights apps. Live stats and Twitter (@UCF_MBB) will also be available for updates.
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